INTERNATIONAL TRADE UNION CONFEDERATIONVancouver BC, 24 June 2010: Unions from all over the world are to adopttoday an ambitious resolution on climate change. In the framework of the 2ndITUC Congress, unions have debated their role in the fight against climatechange, the means to create green and decent jobs and ensure a justtransition towards a low carbon economy and the need for achieving a fair,ambitious and binding deal on climate under UN auspicies. "In the last years, unions have deepened their understanding and commitmenton climate change; the time has come in this 2nd ITUC Congress toconsolidate our policies" said Guy Ryder, General Secretary of the ITUC."With this resolution, trade unions of the world show that if there isambition and solidarity, it is possible to agree on the measures needed tocombat climate change; governments should step up to their responsibilities,as unions have done". The resolution establishes policies on the need for ambitious emissionreductions in developed countries, for sufficient funding to be allocated tohelp the poorest of the world to adapt to climate change, and for developingcountries not to repeat the mistakes of the past but to engage instead in adifferent development path, so as to help build the low carbon, climateresilient and socially-fair world we need. "Climate change is definitely a workers' issue, and Congress isdemonstrating leadership by showing that there is no incompatibility betweenachieving decent work and social justice and protecting the environment",said Sharan Burrow, President of the ITUC. "On the contrary, targettedinvestments and policies aimed at creating green and decent jobs in certainsectors, such as renewable energies, energy efficiency and publictransportation can help us overcome the job crisis we are living through,and unions today are willing to convey this message to the world". "Solidarity between and within countries and a Just Transition are key toending climate change" said Burrow. "Unions of the world have to ensure thattheir governments share costs and gains in a fair manner, and push for thetransition to a low-carbon and sustainable society to be done in such a waythat everyone has a place" she added.In addition to the resolution "Combatting Climate Change through SustainableDevelopment and Just Transition", a documentary produced by ITUC andSustainlabour showcases activities and commitments from the world'sunionists- from leaders to shopfloor activists - on climate change. http://www.ituc-csi.org/international-trade-unions-to.html